This is a simple telling of Jesus' life from the infancy naratives up to his assention and the conversion of Paul. My three year old really likes listThis is a simple telling of Jesus' life from the infancy naratives up to his assention and the conversion of Paul. My three year old really likes listening to this before falling to sleep. I love it when Dickens explains the parables to his children. He uses simple, firm langauge. There are some little changes from the gospels that give me pause. For instance instead of Jesus saying that children's angels constantly behold his father in heaven, he says that all the angels are children. Also, Jesus omits to forgive the paraletic's sins before healing him (really robbing the story of a lot of it's power). Not knowing much about Dickens I don't know if changes like this were made so children could understand, for brevity or for theological reasons. However, other than a few instances, this is a thorough, charming retelling. ...more

This is a delightful story about a devoted wife and her older husband, a blind girl and her adoring father, a young lady and her long lost bethrothedThis is a delightful story about a devoted wife and her older husband, a blind girl and her adoring father, a young lady and her long lost bethrothed and the toy maker who almost destroys the life of all six of them.

The novella set around the Christmas season makes me proud to be a wife and mother. It also ends with the most delightful little dance scene. It's a fun, light read that makes one happy to be alive....more